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Broken Ascension [Young Master LITRPG SYSAPOC]
Ch. 035 - Internal Integration Concluded

Ch. 035 - Internal Integration Concluded

Everyone could hear Bruce’s steps. No more talking, no more laughter. Even those who didn't know Sun Tie or Bruce felt that something was about to go down.

Sun Tie watched Bruce’s approach with a silent and serene look. The whole situation felt odd. Here was the man who'd nearly killed him, then Sun Tie spared him, only to be dining with him... up in the sky. If given the opportunity, Sun Tie would kill Bruce without hesitation.

No third chances. It was a rule Sun Tie wasn't willing to break, and truthfully, he had no desire to. Bruce's obstinacy was grating on him. Sun Tie waited until Bruce was close enough, then rose from his seat. He wouldn’t strike first, unsure of how the system would react.

Bruce was the one burning with anger; Sun Tie was content to let him display his fury before all. A faint smirk crossed Sun Tie’s lips as Bruce’s fist surged towards him. Yet, Sun Tie remained unflinching, even as Bruce’s fist halted mere inches from his face.

In a swift motion, Bruce was sent flying as if thrown by a titan. He soon collided with an invisible barrier, the impact resonating loudly. Sun Tie approached the fallen man, hands clasped behind his back, with Cole trailing closely.

Bruce lay on the ground, groaning, his face a twisted mask of rage and pain. His right leg, with pants torn above the knee, bore a cut from James' blade from the earlier encounter. Sun Tie's gaze shifted to his own belt, noting the absence of his sword. The young master had only possessed it for a few hours but already felt a bond with the weapon.

"Seems you can't learn even a simple lesson," Sun Tie remarked, smirking down at the man, his hands still behind his back. "What's worse, you appear to be deaf."

"I'll kill you," Bruce spat through gritted teeth.

"I don’t think you’re able to," Sun Tie responded, crouching beside him.

“Why did you kill her?” Bruce asked, his anger fading to be replaced by a look of desperation. “She hadn’t recovered yet.”

“I've told you I didn’t kill your mother.”

“You threatened to slit her throat! We found her just as you said—dead in the forest, covered in leaves... like some discarded animal! You monster!” The man's voice rose, spittle flying from his mouth.

Sun Tie crouched beside Bruce, speaking in measured tones.

“Again, I didn’t kill your mother. You're lucky I can’t harm you. The time for threats has passed, Bruce. I won't discuss this with you any further. Do you understand?” Sun Tie asked, arching his brows and peering deeply into Bruce's eyes.

“Just tell me why,” Bruce implored, adjusting himself into a peculiar sitting position. He looked almost childlike, on the verge of tears.

Sun Tie's gaze shifted past Bruce to meet Cole’s. As their eyes locked, the older man avoided his gaze. Shame? The realization hit Sun Tie hard. That's why he has the photograph.

“Given everything you've said, the threats you've made, and your attempt to capture me, I wish I had,” Sun Tie responded, rising and straightening his robe.

“She was ill!” Bruce cried out, tears now flowing freely.

“And I'm sorry to hear that. But stay away from me. Remember my promise: as soon as I have the chance, you’ll die,” Sun Tie remarked, turning his back on Bruce and walking towards his seat at the table. What a pitiful display. Sun Tie's heart was awash with conflicting emotions. He felt compassion for the man’s loss, yet couldn't ignore that Bruce and his brother had chosen this path. All could have been settled through conversation, but they weren't prepared for that. And Sun Tie suspected their mother's influence played a role in their choices.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“Why did you kill her?” Sun Tie whispered, intended only for Cole's ears.

“I had no choice. It was her or me. She was in a rage, likely looking for them, I’m now convinced,” Cole replied. He then halted Sun Tie with a hand on his shoulder, “I tried to stop her, Sun Tie.”

“I trust you, old man. You don't owe me any explanations. I should've dealt with them when I had the chance.”

“And if you had, she would've immediately assumed I was behind their deaths and taken me out,” Cole retorted.

“You have a point,” Sun Tie conceded as they resumed their seats. The appetite Sun Tie once had had vanished.

“No matter how many times something like that happens, I never truly grow accustomed to taking a life. I can live with my actions, even avoid regret... but forget? That's an entirely different matter.”

Sun Tie regarded Cole thoughtfully. “I've never directly taken someone's life.”

Cole looked at Sun Tie for several seconds before putting both elbows at the table, taking a beer and looking at the young master.

“Enjoy while it lasts, kid. It won't be long.” Cole said and started waving his hands, pointing to every direction, “This whole thing here… is a nice distraction, but I suspect everything will turn to shit as soon as we are on the ground again.” after taking a deep drink from his beer, Cole passed one to Sun Tie, “You've made a mortal enemy out of that young man. I should've told the truth to him.”

“Nonsense,” Sun Tie said, opening the can and drinking from it. “Let him think what he wants. He might come to his senses, and if he decides to pursue me, you'll be by my side anyway.”

“Yes, it could work.”

“I’ll join you on your quest, Sun Tie,” James said, raising his head with a determined look on his face.

“Okay,” Sun Tie replied promptly. The priest wore a look of shock, and Cole laughed heartily at the man’s expression.

“Aren’t you going to argue against it?” James pressed.

“No,” Sun Tie replied, savoring his delicious beer.

“Really?”

“Yes, my dear naive James. Now, drink your wine.”

James nodded to Sun Tie and drank as if following a superior's command.

“Don’t be too harsh on him,” Cole muttered.

“I know what I’m doing, old man. We need the numbers, and he needs to learn how to fight. It's better if he sticks with us.” Sun Tie then turned to Sofia and pointed a finger at her, “And you, Healer, since you're there listening to everything in silence, you should at least answer my question: Are you coming with us? We certainly need your abilities.”

“No, thanks. I’ll help Leigh with the camp. I suspect we'll need organizing to survive whatever they're planning for us down there,” she said, pointing to the ground. Sun Tie glanced at it, realizing he hadn't paid it much attention in hours.

Where the jungle once stood now lay city ruins. The path to his grandfather’s mansion had grown longer; what was once a half-day journey now required at least three days on foot.

Beyond the ruins was a prairie covered in tall grass and dotted with trees. Past the prairie, Sun Xiao’s mansion loomed tall in the cultivator’s district. To his left and right, seas and beaches shimmered under the red glow of the Umbraheim moon.

Sun Tie glanced over his shoulder at the formidable and scary Umbraheim mountain. It drew in the light. Yet, near its base was a new depression, housing a massive pit reminiscent of the one consuming the forest. Sun Tie didn’t need confirmation to know that something evil resided within.

People from Umbraheim, dressed in tattered clothing, stared transfixed at the pit, as if expecting something to emerge.

Directing his gaze back to his grandfather’s mansion, Sun Tie spotted several specks in the sky. Cultivators observing the bizarre night unfolding around them.

Internal Integration Concluded.

Powerful beasts and Mana manipulators from Umbraheim and Eternal Wind will now be released to aid in building the new world. Their power levels have been adjusted to ensure fair integration. Enjoy the remainder of the feast and observe.

Before Sun Tie could question what he was meant to witness, he saw the cultivators falling from the sky, one after another, as though they were losing their cultivation powers.